Blair Green with her UK scholarship after signing with Kentucky. (Larry Vaught Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

During the 13th Region Tournament Harlan County’s Blair Green played like an All-American. Now she has been named a 2018 Naismith High School All-America Honorable Mention honoree Monday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Green, a Kentucky signee, averaged 31 points per game in regional play when it counted most for her team. Harlan will take a 28-2 record and 18-game win streak into its state tournament game against George Rogers Clark Wednesday night at Northern Kentucky University.

How good was Green in regional play? She had 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block in a 59-42 win over Pineville. In the regional semifinals. she had 38 points on 11-for-21 shooting, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in a 68-62 victory over South Laurel. Green had 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting, six assists, five steals, two blocks and two rebounds in the regional title game win over North Laurel.

The 6-0 Green is averaging 26 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season and is shooting 59 percent overall from the field. At the foul line, she’s 157 of 186 — an 84.4 percent mark. As a junior she averaged 23.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while hitting 54 percent from the field, including 44 percent from 3-point range.
Green is also one of the leading contenders for Miss Basketball honors. The winner will be announced March 13 in Lexington.

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Kentucky signee Rhyne Howard of Cleveland, Tenn., is also a Naismith High School All-America Honorable Mention. Howard scored 41 points on 16-for-25 shooting to help Bradley Central win its district title and had 27 points and 15 rebounds in the sectional championship.

The guard is averaging 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.4 steals and 4.1 assists per game. She is shooting 54 percent from the field this season.

She has scored 721 points this year after scoring 647 last year when she was the Class AAA Miss Basketball runner up. She’s also a candidate for Miss Basketball honors this year.